Tragedy at Uffington in 1892

Reading Mercury

 

Sat 14 May, 1892

 

Fatal Accident to a Child at Uffington

 

 

An inquest was held by Mr W.C. Jotcham, deputy coroner, at the, ‘White House’ Inn, Uffington, on Tuesday evening, concerning the death of a little boy, aged six years, named George Stevens, residing with his grandmother at Woolstone, who was accidentally killed by a traction engine on Monday evening. It appeared that the deceased with other children were riding in one of the trucks attached to the traction engine, the property of Mr Plowman, of Uffington Station Brickworks, which was at the time proceeding along the road between the village and the railway station. When near the Canal Bridge the deceased (unnoticed by the driver) got out of the truck, and in doing so fell to the ground, when one of the wheels passed over his chest, killing the poor child immediately. A verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was returned. While exempting the driver from blame, the jury expressed a strong opinion that children ought not, under any circumstances, to be allowed to ride on any part of the engine or trucks, and Mr Plowman, the owner, who was present, promised to do his best to prevent it in future.